OSHA Inspection: THE TREE ADVOCATE, INC

Issued

May 10, 2004

Abate by

May 20, 2004

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $4,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1)  of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not furnish
employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized
hazards that were causing or likely
to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees
were expose to a struck-by hazard
while cutting down a tree.  On or about 12/04/2003, the employer had not
ensured that: 1) the chain saw
operator (using the short saw) was trained in the operational procedures
of cutting down a tree; 2) the
employee (Foreman) entering back into the "work area" got approval from
the chain saw operator; 3) the
Foreman developed and followed a work plan; and, 4) employees in the work
area were looking at the
tree/stump until it fell.
One feasible and acceptable abatement method, among others, to correct
this hazard is to implement a
"work plan" identifying the signals for safe or unsafe conditions, ensure
that employees never enter a
fall zone/work area unless the operator is aware of it and acknowledges
the employee, and ensure that
all the employee(s) in the "work area" have constant visual contact with
the
tree/stump. [Reference
American National Standards Institute, ANSI Z133.1, "Pruning, Repairing,
Maintaining, and
Removing Trees, and Cutting Brush - Safety Requirements, Section 9.5 -
Tree Removal.]nts,